Amendment and invalidation of declarations

Entry declarations and temporary storage declarations submitted to Customs can be amended by submitting amending declarations. 

What declarations can be amended?

You can amend the following declarations submitted via the arrival and exit declaration service (AREX) or via message exchange:

  • Entry summary declaration (IE315)
  • Arrival notification and presentation (IE347)
  • Exit summary declaration (FI615)
  • Exit manifest presentation (IE547).

You can amend the following declarations submitted via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange:

  • Temporary storage declaration (FI337)
  • Presentation notification (FI332)
  • Temporary storage declaration and presentation notification (FI335)
  • Temporary storage declaration after movement (FI377).

You can also amend safety and security declarations submitted to the EU Commission’s ICS2 system.

How and when to amend declarations?

Message declarants amend declarations by submitting amendment requests. An amendment request shall contain a reference to the transaction ID (AREX) or MRN of the original declaration assigned by Customs. 

A declaration lodged via the online service can be amended in the online service.

The declarant’s, representative’s or service provider’s details can’t be amended. If these details change, invalidation of the declaration must be requested and a new declaration must be lodged using the correct details. An incorrectly provided customs status can be changed using an amendment request before the goods are presented to Customs.

If the goods declared using a temporary storage declaration have already been placed under a subsequent customs procedure, it is not always required to request an amendment of the information declared in the temporary storage declaration. Amendment is not necessary if:

  • the goods description is further specified, but in such a way that the goods description would not affect the commodity code, had the 4-digit commodity code been used
  • the quantity changes, but the change is not significant.

In the case of arriving overshipped goods that haven’t been previously declared, the declaration must be amended before presentation or a new declaration must be lodged after presentation.

Please note that the declarant must keep and archive the documents or the electronic data verifying the change.

Points to consider

A transport company or their representative can send an amending declaration of an entry summary declaration until the arrival of the goods has been notified either with a separate arrival notification (IE3470) or an arrival notification and presentation (IE347).

After presentation, any amendments shall be made with an unloading report for temporary storage. 

An entry summary declaration can’t be amended after a diversion request (IE323) has been submitted to Customs. Any amendment of the details must be discussed with the actual customs office of entry.

Amendment prior to the presentation of goods

In exceptional cases, the Customs Electronic Service Centre can give permission to lodge a new entry summary declaration. In that case, the original declaration must be invalidated.

All parties must be notified of the MRN and goods item numbers of the new entry summary declaration. The new MRN and goods item numbers must be used in the customs declarations.

Amendment after the presentation of goods

After the presentation of goods, amendments shall only be made concerning goods that have been unloaded at the place of entry in temporary storage. Details of the goods that remain on the means of transport are not amended to Finnish Customs.

Amending the details of goods that have been unloaded into a temporary storage facility

If the transport company that lodged the declaration notices an error or shortcoming in the declaration when the goods were unloaded into a temporary storage facility, the transport company should notify both the Electronic Service Centre and the temporary storage operator of the changes.

Send the message to the Electronic Service Centre by email, spake.varastointi(at)tulli. The message should have a clear subject line, e.g. “Amendment of AREX declaration data”. In the message, provide the detail that changed as well as the MRN and goods item number of the entry summary declaration.

As verification, you must have one of the following:

  • In sea traffic, the amendment can be verified e.g. with a manifest or manifest correction. An amended cargo data notification in Portnet or in the customer’s system is also sufficient verification. An amended manifest or other verification need not be attached to the email.
  • In air traffic, the temporary storage records can be provided as verification of the amendment.

The temporary storage operator enters the amended details into the temporary storage records.

If the temporary storage operator has not yet submitted an unloading report, the parties may agree that the temporary storage operator is to notify Customs of the amendments using an unloading report (IE044). In that case, the transport company need not notify the Customs Electronic Service Centre separately of the amended details.

If the storage operator notices an error or shortcoming when the goods were unloaded into a temporary storage facility, they shall provide the discrepant details using an unloading report for temporary storage (IE044).

If completely undeclared goods (e.g. an undeclared container or consignment) are detected in the temporary storage facility, the temporary storage operator shall notify the Electronic Service Centre of this by email: spake.varastointi(at)tulli.fi.

The transport company or its representative is responsible for submitting new electronic declarations (IE315, IE3470 and IE347) regarding the overshipped goods. The temporary storage operator is responsible for submitting the unloading report that concerns the new declaration.

If the temporary storage operator notices a discrepancy after the unloading report has been submitted, the operator should notify the Electronic Service Centre of the discrepancy by email: spake.varastointi(at)tulli.fi

Amending details when the goods have been presented immediately for customs clearance

Customs need not be notified of amendments to the details of the entry summary declaration if the customs clearance has been done with correct details.

In other cases, the transport company notifies Customs of the amended details by email to spake.varastointi(at)tulli.fi. The message should have a clear subject line, e.g. “Amendment of an AREX summary declaration”. In the message, provide the amended detail as well as the MRN and goods item number of the entry summary declaration. The transport company must keep the verifications concerning the amendment.


The amending declaration must be lodged within 48 hours of the acceptance of the original declaration. However, if Customs has notified you of goods control, you can’t amend the details of the goods item Customs has selected for control.

If the error that needs to be amended can’t be amended using an electronic declaration, submit the amended details to the Electronic Service Centre by email: spake.varastointi(at)tulli.fi. The Electronic Service Centre will make the required amendments to the declaration.

The details must always be amended in the following cases:

  • Amend the details if the details of the temporary storage facility are incorrect. Otherwise the storage operator can’t submit an unloading report.
  • Amend the details if it has been declared that the goods are to be customs cleared immediately, but the goods are not immediately placed under a customs procedure and they are moved to a temporary storage facility.

  • Before submitting the arrival notification and presenting the goods, you can send an amending declaration or an invalidation request for the declaration to the Commission’ ICS2 system.

  • The declaration cannot be amended after the goods have been presented. If you need to amend the declaration details, please contact the Electronic Service Centre of Customs. If the declaration is unnecessary, you can request invalidation of the entry summary declaration via the Customs Clearance Service or by using the FI314 message. In the invalidation request, you should provide the MRN of the entry summary declaration and the transport document number of the house consignment to be invalidated.

  • You cannot request amendment or invalidation of the arrival notification.


This translation is being updated.

 

Temporary storage declarations can be amended prior to presentation and after presentation. The submitter (the transport company, the temporary storage operator or the operator’s representative) can submit the amendment request when the declaration has been registered and it has been assigned an MRN.

Declarations lodged via message exchange shall be amended by submitting an amendment request relating to the original declaration. Declarations lodged via the Customs Clearance Service shall be amended by submitting an amendment request for the declaration to be amended.

At what point should the declaration be amended?

If the transport company that lodged the declaration notices an error or a shortcoming in the declaration, the transport company must amend the incorrect declaration with an amendment request either via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange. 

If the storage operator notices an error or a shortcoming when the goods were unloaded into a temporary storage facility, they shall provide the discrepant details using an unloading report for temporary storage (FI364) or request the transport company to amend the declaration.

If completely undeclared goods (e.g. an undeclared container or consignment) are detected in the temporary storage facility, a new temporary storage declaration and a presentation notification or a combined temporary storage declaration and presentation notification must be submitted for the goods.

Amending a temporary storage declaration

House level transport documents or goods items cannot be added to or removed from a temporary storage declaration with an amendment request after the presentation of the goods. If needed a new declaration must be submitted or the invalidation of an individual item must be requested.

The declared customs status and additional information code can be amended before the goods have been presented to Customs. If the goods’ status as Union status has not been declared and they have already been presented to Customs, the detail is entered manually by Customs. Send the T2L document or the amended manifest to the email address unioniasema(at)tulli.fi. If the goods have been incorrectly declared as having Union status despite being third country goods, the goods must be placed under a customs procedure and the temporary storage declaration used as the previous document. You can also contact Customs at unioniasema(at)tulli.fi and ask that the information on the incorrect union status of the goods be added to the declaration comments.  Read more about proving the Union status of arriving goods 
Amending a presentation notification

Correcting an erroneous warehouse ID after presentation of goods to Customs

If you have provided an incorrect warehouse ID on your temporary storage declaration and notice this only after you have submitted your arrival notification, take the following steps:

  • Cancel the presentation of the goods by submitting a correction request (FI334) for the presentation notification. The correction request must omit the MRN of the arrival notification, and the transport document details on the items to be presented.
  • Correct the temporary storage declaration by submitting correction request (FI338) for the temporary storage declaration. In the request, include the corrected warehouse ID.
  • Submit a new arrival notification (FI332) concerning the corrected temporary storage declaration. Provide the warehouse ID that you included in the correction request.

A presentation notification must be amended if there are changes in the details of means of transport, location of goods, identification number of a temporary storage or presented consignments. 

If you only provided a house level transport document in the presentation notification and all the goods items were presented, you cannot amend the presentation notification so that it concerns only specific goods items. If your intention was to present only some of the goods items, you should first send an amendment request (FI334) for the presentation notification and leave the house level transport document details blank. After that, you should send a new presentation notification indicating the goods items that you wish to present as having arrived. 

If you submitted the presentation notification by mistake before the arrival of the goods, you should send an amendment request (FI334) for the presentation notification, leaving the details for both the MRN of the consignment to be presented and the house level transport document blank. When the goods arrive, submit a new presentation notification.

Invalidation of a presentation notification cannot be requested.


The following entry and exit declarations can’t be amended:

  • diversion request (IE323)
  • exit notification (IE590)
  • arrival notification (IE3470)
  • arrival notification for temporary storage (IE007)
  • unloading report for temporary storage (IE044).

If you need to amend these declarations or notifications, contact the Electronic Service Centre by email: spake.varastointi(at)tulli.fi.


You can’t request amendment of the following declarations or notifications submitted via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange:

  • unloading report for temporary storage (FI364) 
  • notification of the intended movement (FI376)
  • notification of finalization of the movement (FI379).

If you need to amend the unloading report that you have lodged, send a new unloading report using the correct details.

If you need to amend the notification of the indented movement you have lodged, because the movement is not taking place or you have submitted the wrong details of the consignment to be moved, lodge a notification of the finalization of the movement using the code “0 - Movement cancelled”. If necessary, submit a new notification on the intended movement with the correct details.


The trader responsible for lodging a declaration can request invalidation of the following declarations, if none of the goods items covered by the declaration have been presented as arrived or exited or if more than one declaration has been submitted for the same goods:

  • entry summary declaration (IE315) or entry summary declaration amendment (IE313)
  • exit summary declaration (IE615) or exit summary declaration amendment (IE613).

Invalidation requests are processed by the Electronic Service Centre.
Submit the invalidation request using the form 711e. You can also make a free-form invalidation request and send it by email to varastointi.spake(at)tulli.fi. Provide the following details in the free-form invalidation request:

  • MRN and/or transaction ID
  • declarant’s name, Business ID and extension as well as contact information
  • reason for invalidation.

If the goods covered by the declaration haven’t been presented to Customs or if the goods have not been declared as arrived when using the arrival notification IE3470, Customs will invalidate the old entry summary declarations (200 days after the acceptance of the declaration) and exit summary declarations (150 days after the acceptance of the declaration). Declarations are not invalidated automatically. Instead, Customs asks the declarant to provide an explanation.

Other entry and exit declarations, such as exit manifest presentation (IE547) and exit notification (IE590), can’t be invalidated.


Invalidation of a declaration is requested in cases when the declaration has been unduly submitted. Customs will automatically invalidate a pre-lodged temporary storage declaration (FI337) if the goods have not been presented within the 30-day time limit.

The declarant or their representative can request invalidation of a temporary storage declaration, if more than one declaration has been submitted for the same goods or if the goods didn’t arrive at all even if they have been presented to Customs as arriving. Invalidation can be requested both before and after the presentation of the goods. 

Invalidation after the presentation of the goods

The quantity of unloaded goods can’t be zero (0) in the unloading report of the temporary storage operator. Because of this, the storage operator or transport company requests the invalidation of the temporary storage declaration, if the goods have not arrived. The invalidation can be requested after the presentation of the goods also for a single house level consignment or goods item in the declaration. If you do not wish to invalidate all goods items in a consignment, a separate invalidation request must be submitted for each goods item to be invalidated.

Choose the appropriate reason code for invalidation

Please note that you need to choose the appropriate reason code when you apply for invalidation. Choose one of the following reason codes depending on whether the goods have been presented to Customs or not:

  • Reason code “N - the goods did not arrive” 
    • The code is used when the goods have not yet been presented to Customs and the goods are not in the means of transport.
  • Reason code “P - Discrepancies between the unloading report and the declaration/notification”
    • The code is used when the goods have already been presented to Customs as arrived and it is concluded that the goods did not arrive at all.

You cannot submit an invalidation request via the Customs Clearance Service if the declarant has a non-Finnish EORI number

If the declarant has a non-Finnish EORI number, you cannot use the “Contact Customs” function in the Customs Clearance Service to submit the invalidation request. This bug will be fixed in autumn 2023. The bug does not concern invalidation requests submitted in the form of a message (FI314). 

Before the presentation of the goods, you can request invalidation as follows:

  • Request invalidation for the temporary storage declaration in the Customs Clearance Service by using the “Contact Customs” function and selecting “Other reason”.
  • Write “Invalidation request” in the field. Add an explanation why the declaration must be invalidated, whether the invalidation concerns the whole declaration or only one or several of its transport documents and whether it concerns one or several goods items in the transport document. 

After the presentation of the goods, you can request invalidation as follows:

  • Amend the presentation notification by removing the presentation item that did not arrive. The temporary storage declaration will be automatically invalidated 30 days after its submission if you do not submit a new presentation notification later. If all goods items of the original temporary storage declaration have been presented, the presentation items should be amended so that only those items that have arrived are declared in the amendment request. 

A presentation notification cannot be invalidated

An invalidation of a presentation notification cannot be requested. If the presented goods have not arrived, send the amendment request for the presentation notification without any consignment to be presented.


The declaration must be amended before the arrival of the goods, if the declarations details change

If the details of the means of transport or of the goods change, the details must be amended before the goods are presented at the border customs office.

Identified online declarants and message declarants may amend entry summary declarations they have already submitted until the goods have been presented to Customs.

Unidentified online declarants can’t amend the details provided in the declaration. Instead they must request invalidation of the declaration submitted with incorrect details and submit a new declaration.

Errors detected in the declaration when the goods are presented at the border

If the declared goods don’t match the submitted declaration and can’t be connected to the arriving transport, the customer must submit a new entry summary declaration.

Errors not amended by Customs:

  • The declaration reference (LRN), a unique reference number provided by the customer
  • Estimated date and time of arrival.

The customer or Customs may amend all other declaration details except the following:

  • declarant
  • representative.

If these details change, the customer must submit a new entry summary declaration with correct trader details.

The customer can’t amend an entry summary declaration if the declaration is still being processed by Customs or if Customs has ordered a control to be carried out the customer has been notified of it.